January 1st, 2015 January 1st, 2015 January 5th, 2015 January 29th, 2015 February 1st, 2015 February 18th, 2015

Mode(s)

Single Player Grand Prix, Single Player Time Trial, Single Player VS Match, Single Player Battle Match, Single Player Mission Mode, Online Multiplayer

Genre(s)

Racing

Media Included

Nintendo Wii U CD

Mario Kart: Drift Dash is the 12th game in the Mario Kart series, and the 9th one in the mainstream series. The game is for the Nintendo Wii U, and is rated E for Everyone. The game was first released in the USA on January 1, 2015.

There were also special discs released including both this game and Super Mario Kart. Ten of these discs were randomly put into boxes (20% out of all of the originally released included SMK) and those who got the SMK + MKDD discs were lucky and didn't even have to pay extra. The boxes containing SMK were also designed the same as the regular boxes, so it was a mystery. The SMK versions had discs that had a picture of Super Mario World Mario under the words "Drift Dash", showing that it was the SMK-included one. The SMK-included games were not released for the eShop.

Contents

Features

The game is mostly a mixture of past features in the Mario Kart series, but has one new notable feature: Drift Dashing. This is accomplished by drifting 5 times fast enough that the kart gains purple flames. When the player lets go of the drift button, they will get a speed boost that lasts for 7 & 1/2 seconds.

Sadly, customizable parts do not make a return, and the game goes back to the old different kart system, which is similar to the one used in Mario Kart Wii. However, gliders, underwater driving, and anti-gravity make a return, and the Double Dash!! feature appears as a separate mode so players will not always have to drive with two players in the kart.

Controls

Note: Only controls that have a function in this game will be shown.

Control

What It Does

Control Stick (L)

Lets the player move the kart left/right while racing.

D-Pad

Scroll through the Menu, Up Arrow Key lets you look backwards while racing.

Modes

Grand Prix

Grand Prix is a mode in which you try to win a trophy by overall placing 3rd or higher in a cup, which is a group of 4 courses. Winning 3rd will gain you a bronze trophy, winning 2nd will gain you a silver trophy, and winning 1st will gain you a good trophy.

25cc

In this mode, the speed is the same as 50cc, but CPUs are set to Very Easy difficulty, and the tracks are changed to be made easier. This is perfect for beginners, and is available as soon as you start the game.

50cc

In this mode, the speed is slow, and the CPUs are set to Easy, making it easy, and good for beginners. This difficulty is default.

100cc

This mode has a medium speed and CPUs are also set to Medium. It is better for intermediate players.

150cc

This mode has a fast speed, and CPUs are set to Hard. Many consider this to be the hardest difficulty. It is better for trained players, and must be unlocked by completing all cups in 50cc.

150cc Mirror

This mode is indentical to 150cc, but all of the tracks are flipped to the opposite direction. This mode can only be unlocked by completing all cups in 150cx.

200cc

This mode has an extremely fast speed, and CPUs remain on Hard difficulty. It is best for expert players, and can only be unlocked by getting at least 1 star on every cup for 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc.

Time Trials

VS

Battle

Balloon Battle

Coin Runners

Bob-omb Blast

Shine Thief

Mission Mode

Double Dash!! Mode

In Double Dash!! Mode, players race in pairs, just like in the game Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. Double Dash!! Mode is unlocked after the player gets every character (excluding downloadable and premium). When the player first gets the mode, the players come in Default pairs (the default pairs section can be found here. However, after the player wins all of the Grand Prix cups for 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc, they can use whatever combination of 2 characters the want. The Mii Outfits, Premium characters, and downloadable characters can all pair with whoever they want.

Retro Courses

This game contains Retro Courses, just like every Mario Kart game after Mario Kart DS. The courses consist of 4 courses from previous Mario Kart games, with no cups having 2 courses from the same game.

Beta Elements

The game has many names before its final name. These included Mario Kart Universe, Mario Kart Swift, Mario Kart Rapid, and Mario Kart: Fuel Boost.

This game originally contained 10 characters for the 5 weight classes.

At a Blizzard Direct, a beta retro course roster was shown (without MK8 courses). It contained the following (note that courses with asterisks made it in the final game, whether in the same cup or not):